2025 ICD-10-CM code W50

Accidental hit, strike, kick, twist, bite, or scratch by another person.

Always use an additional code from Chapter 19 to specify the type and location of the injury.Code W50 should be used as a secondary code, following the code that describes the injury sustained.This code should not be used for intentional acts of violence, which have their own coding guidelines.

Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter and the services rendered.Consult the official coding guidelines for relevant modifiers.

Medical necessity is established by the presence of an accidental injury caused by another person, requiring diagnosis, treatment, and/or follow-up care. The documentation should clearly support the diagnosis and medical necessity.

The clinical responsibility involves documenting the circumstances of the injury, the type of injury sustained, and providing appropriate treatment. This might involve a physician, nurse practitioner, or other healthcare professional depending on the severity of the injury.Accurate coding requires documenting the mechanism of injury and the resulting diagnosis(es).

IMPORTANT More specific codes exist within the W50 range (e.g., W50.0XXA for accidental hit or strike, initial encounter; W50.4XXD for accidental scratch, subsequent encounter).Additional codes from Chapter 19 (S00-T88) are required to specify the nature and location of the injury.

In simple words: This code is used when someone gets hurt accidentally by another person, such as being hit, kicked, bitten, or scratched.This code describes how the injury happened, not the specific injury itself (e.g., a cut or bruise).

This ICD-10-CM code classifies injuries resulting from accidental contact with another person, including hits, strikes, kicks, twists, bites, or scratches.It is crucial to note that this code describes the circumstance causing the injury, not the nature of the injury itself.Therefore, a further code from Chapter 19 (Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes) should be used to specify the injury sustained (e.g., laceration, contusion, fracture).The code also excludes intentional assaults (coded elsewhere).

Example 1: A child falls and is accidentally kicked by another child on the playground, resulting in a minor abrasion to the knee (W50, S01.4XXA)., During a sporting event, a player accidentally strikes another player in the face with an elbow, causing a nasal fracture (W50, S00.0XXA)., An elderly patient is accidentally bitten by a dog while walking, resulting in a deep laceration to the arm requiring sutures (W50, W60.XXXA, S61.2XXA).

Complete and accurate documentation is essential. This includes:* Detailed description of the event leading to the injury.* The nature and location of any injury sustained.* Assessment findings, including photographs if appropriate.* Treatment provided.* Any follow-up care or referrals.

** The severity of the injury will dictate the additional codes used.For instance, a minor abrasion may require only a simple treatment code, whereas a significant fracture will require more extensive coding and documentation.Always ensure complete and accurate documentation to support the billing codes used.

  • Payment Status: Active
  • Modifier TC rule: Not applicable to this code, as it pertains to the circumstances of injury, not a specific procedure.
  • Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, other specialties as applicable based on the resulting injury.
  • Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Urgent Care Facility, other places of service as applicable.
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